Short answer: For Title 24 in San Francisco, additions, ADUs, new units and many alterations need an energy compliance report showing the design meets California's Energy Code. Title24Comply prepares it online from your plans, starting at $199 for ADUs, $245 for single-family and $345 per multifamily building. Standard delivery is 2–3 business days.
San Francisco is a dense, mild-climate Bay Area city with active residential, ADU and multifamily construction.
Climate Zone 3 and What It Means for Your Report
San Francisco sits in Climate Zone 3, a mild coastal climate with cool summers and moderate winters. Window performance and insulation are the main factors in the energy model. We model every San Francisco project in CEC-approved compliance software using Climate Zone 3, confirmed from the project address.
With little cooling demand, the model mostly measures how well the building holds heat. Wall and roof insulation, glazing area and window ratings, and heating and water-heating equipment usually decide whether a design complies. Mandatory measures such as ventilation and duct sealing still apply. See Zone 3 Title 24 requirements and Zone 3 window requirements.
Common Title 24 Projects in San Francisco
We prepare Title 24 reports for all common residential project types in San Francisco:
- New single-family home construction
- Room additions of any size
- ADUs and Junior ADUs including garage conversions
- Remodels and alterations affecting insulation, windows, or mechanical systems
- Multifamily duplexes, triplexes, and fourplexes
- HVAC replacement projects
- Window replacement projects
Remodels and additions on small lots
Much of San Francisco is built on narrow lots, so projects often grow up or back instead of out: vertical additions, rear additions and full-gut remodels of existing homes. When an addition is modeled together with the existing house, the older portion's walls, windows and equipment affect the result. Accurate "existing" information on the plans matters. See home addition Title 24.
Ground-floor ADUs and added units
Converting ground-floor garage or storage space into an ADU is a common way to add a unit in the city. The new conditioned space needs its own energy compliance. See garage conversion Title 24 and ADU Title 24 reports.
Multifamily buildings
The city has a large stock of two- to four-unit buildings and other low-rise multifamily housing. New or substantially altered low-rise multifamily buildings typically use the LMCC compliance forms rather than a CF1R. See multifamily Title 24 reports and what an LMCC is.
Submitting in San Francisco
San Francisco is a consolidated city and county, so one local building department handles permits across the whole city. Submit your Title 24 report to that department's plan check with the rest of your permit set, and we format the report for that submission. If plan check returns energy comments, two revisions are included. See plan check comments.
What We Need, Pricing and Turnaround
Upload a PDF plan set with floor plans, elevations, sections, a window schedule and a site plan with orientation. For remodels and additions, the plans should clearly separate existing, new and altered work. Include the heating, cooling and water-heating equipment. See what documents to upload.
- ADU: from $199 (up to 1,000 sq ft included)
- Single-family residential: from $245 (projects under 3,500 sq ft included)
- Multifamily: from $345 per building (up to 4,000 sq ft and 4 units included)
Standard turnaround is 2–3 business days, with 24-hour rush available. See Title 24 report cost.
Nearby Cities
We also serve Oakland, Berkeley, Daly City, San Mateo, and the surrounding area. Nearby pages include Daly City, Oakland, Berkeley, San Mateo and San Rafael. Browse the Bay Area hub or the Northern California overview.
Frequently Asked Questions
What climate zone is San Francisco in?
San Francisco is in Climate Zone 3. The zone on your report is set by the project address or ZIP code.
Does a San Francisco kitchen or bath remodel need Title 24?
It depends on scope. Cosmetic work often does not trigger an energy report. Changes to insulation, windows, lighting or mechanical systems may. The building department decides. See when Title 24 is required.
Do replacement windows in San Francisco need Title 24?
Window replacements can trigger Title 24 depending on how much glazing is replaced. See window replacement requirements.
Which form does a San Francisco fourplex use?
Low-rise multifamily buildings generally use the LMCC. Single-family homes and ADUs use the CF1R. See CF1R vs LMCC.
